By Trevor Makonyonga
One of the country’s leading comedy stables, Simuka, will this month host their first ever festival from November 27 to 29 in a three day extravaganza.
The festival will be a celebration of the comedy company’s 10 year anniversary.
Speaking to Bustop TV, Simuka Communication Officer, Wence “Kadem the Comic” Katuka explained how the virtual festival will take place.
Kadem said, “To celebrate 10 Years of Funny in all various forms of comedy, Simuka Comedy Virtual Festival will present “Simuka Phakama”, an 11-episode recorded stand-up comedy series featuring Zimbabwe’s comedy hard hitters with names like Doc Vikela, Clive Chigubu, Ntando Van Moyo, Munya, Bhutisi among others.
The festival will also bring “I’m Funny Too” which will present online workshops and video skits from aspiring comedians from Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. The programme will also include online discussions, masterclasses and screening of short comedy video skits from renowned comedians. The Inaugural Festival will also feature comedians from other countries including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom and Zambia in a move to collaborate with other international comedians to promote the comedy sector in the arts industry.
“The virtual edition will also be partnered by Culture Fund through the European Union, Hivos, Magamba TV and Zimbabwean German Society.”
Running under the theme “Rise Again – Simuka Futi – Phakama Futhi,” the organisers of the festival said that they want to reintroduce the “Zimbabwean Comedy scene to the world.”
“Simuka Comedy has also brought comedy projects like “Special Class”, “Vakuru” and “PaTown” and under their theme for the year “Rise Again – Simuka Futi – Phakama Futhi”, they make a clarion call to all Zimbabweans to celebrate local comedy as they re-introduce the Zimbabwean comedy scene to the world through cultural exchange between local and international stars.”
Simuka co-founder, Doc Vikela, said that there will be workshops also during the festival and he also shared the links for participating in the festival.
“The Simuka Comedy Virtual Festival, a three-day marathon of non-stop laughter from all comedy genres in the comfort of your home, will run virtually and online from the 27th to the 29th of November 2020. Simuka Comedy Virtual Festival will present the best in national and regional stand up, improvisation, video skits and sketch comedy. The festival will also present comedy workshops and symposiums being hosted by various local and regional comedians, panelists and comedy stakeholders,” said Doc Vikela.
Simuka Comedy Virtual Festival will be livestreamed on the Simuka Comedy facebook and youtube channels with these channel links: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/SimukaComedy and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyPJOTm9YF6EW3ow48E2Bw”
The Simuka Festival will be broken down into three Days with Friday the 27th of November being “Farai-Day”, which will be dedicated to female comedians. Saturday the 28th of November will be “Satire-Day”, which will present satirical content throughout the day, with Sunday the 29th of November being “Sunny-Day”, bringing all various forms of comedy on the day.
According to Simuka, the goal of the festival is to celebrate comedy in all its forms including film, stand-up comedy, theatre, sketch comedy and parody. The festival will also play a role of networking with various comedy stakeholders and comedians around Africa promoting collaborations.
